Sugarcane farmers protest over delay in increasing FRP; object to absence of farmers’ representative in Ramesh Chand panel

Sugarcane farmers led by Kurubur Shanthakumar staging a demonstration outside APMC in Mysuru on Thursday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Sugarcane farmers staged a protest in front of Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) premises in Mysuru on Thursday to express their anger over the delay in increasing the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane.

The farmers, who objected to the absence of a farmers’ representative in the Ramesh Chand Committee constituted by the Centre to examine the issues raised by the sugarcane farmers, threatened to intensify their agitation if the delay in increasing the FRP prolongs.

Addressing the protestors, president of Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers’ Association Kurubur Shanthakumar said the Committee should include a representative of the farmers to ensure that their concerns are addressed and justice is delivered.

He said the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) obtains reports from State governments every year and that the FRP should be revised based on these reports.

The Association demanded separate pricing for sugar produced for commercial and consumer use so that the additional profits earned by sugar mills can be shared with farmers.